Blue Mountain Valley Church Celebrates 60 Years of Service

By Jacqueline Biloff

Blue Mountain Valley Church member

Earlier this year, Blue Mountain Valley Adventist Church in Athena, Oregon, celebrated the 60th year of their chartering. 

Previous pastors, as many as were alive and could be contacted, were invited to return and share in the event. Seven did: Loren Fenton, Doug Johnson, Roger Kruger, Ole Olesen, Matthew Lombard and Lloyd Perrin. Nancy Canwell was not able to be present but sent a message to be read.

The pastors were allotted 10 minutes to share whatever was on their hearts, followed by special music. At least three pastors provided music — one with his wife as a violin duet. There were also memoir moments by previous members. After a delightful two hours of reminiscing, a meal was served for all in attendance.

As attendees made their way from the sanctuary to the fellowship room, they were treated to a Hall of Remembrance, featuring pictured bulletin boards of the history of the chartering, the building of the church, the growth of the school and years of Pathfinders adventures.

After the meal, a story hour ensued. The church has served its local community with two medical clinics, a healthful bakery, Bags of Love — a quilt, stuffed animal, book and toiletries for displaced children — quilt ministry, card ministry, prayer ministry, YouTube series — "Stories for Kids by Aunt Myla" — missionaries and many mission trips.

Some of the highlights of the memories included the years of work on the Umatilla Reservation, where a church and school were located in Mission, Oregon. Lee and Verna Clay spearheaded that venture. Though the couple has long passed, many church members remember them fondly.

Another story shared was from an elderly couple who attended the celebration. Ed and Ruth MacKenzie were original charter members who told of how they sent a letter several days later explaining why, although signing the charter, they never became members. 

In January 1964, the couple, both 20 years old, signed their church charter. They married in June of that same year and, on their wedding weekend, planned to move their mobile home from College Place, Washington, to Pendleton, Oregon, for work at Harris Pine Mills. As they passed the Weston, Oregon, junction, strong winds caught their trailer and tipped it over.

“It broke the hitch and sent us towards the bank,” the letter from the MacKenzie’s stated. “The trailer had slid across all four lanes of traffic. We were not hurt but very shaken. The trailer was totaled but thank God our belongings were OK.”

The couple went to Idaho instead to sell books, but the silver mines had closed and people didn’t have money for books.

“We came back to Walla Walla College, and Ed went to school and I worked,” the letter continued. “It is how we became involved in missions."

An evening concert was also held with the 60-member orchestra portion of Inland Northwest Musicians, who were celebrating 25 years of serving small, underserved communities in Washington and Oregon. Musicians drove hours from all directions to participate. One flew in from Colorado, where she currently lives. The sanctuary again filled and overflowed into the balcony as spectators enjoyed an hour and a half of spectacular music.